How to keep your sleeping baby cool in hot weather

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Your baby will sleep most comfortably in a room with a temperature of between 16 degrees C and 20 degrees C. But when it's very hot outside, you may need to take extra measures to keep your baby cool while he sleeps.

What should my baby wear in hot weather?

It depends on how warm the weather is. The key thing is to remove unnecessary bedding from his cot. If your baby is wearing a nappy, vest and sleepsuit, he'll only need a sheet as bedding if the temperature in his room is 24 degrees C (DH 2009). If he still seems hot, it's fine for him to sleep in his vest or just his nappy.

Remove any padding from around his cot to allow the air to circulate, and open windows in several rooms to allow a through-breeze.

What can I do to lower the temperature?

You could try using a fan in your baby's room before his bedtime. This will make the room nice and cool by the time you lay him down to sleep. But don't allow the fan to face your baby at any time, and place it well away from his grasp.

Hang wet towels over chairs or windows when it's really stifling. The evaporating water will help the air to cool.

Consider removing any waterproof sheets while the weather is hot. Or cover the waterproof sheet with several layers of tightly wrapped cotton sheets. Keep curtains drawn and blinds closed during the day to prevent the sun from heating up his room.

If your baby falls asleep in his pram, keep an eye on him, as prams can soon become hot and airless. Never leave your baby to sleep in his car seat in the car. Even with the windows open, temperatures inside a parked car can rise frighteningly quickly.

For more advice about keeping your baby cool in hot weather visit The Lullaby Trust. You can also order a room thermometer via its website.

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Comments

Put a bottle of ice cold water (tightly closed obviously) in with your little one whe. They hold it or move to a point where the. Bottle has been its lovely and cool for them! You can even do this yourself works a treat for me in this unusually stifling hot UK weather :o) x

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